Johor Bahru Shop: 10 Shopping Malls in JB for Singapore Day-Trippers

Fancy a one-day / short trip to Johor Bahru for some shopping and local eats? Or go over once or twice a month for cheap groceries at the supermarkets? Check out this list of 10+ shopping malls in terms of proximity from JB Sentral and/or popularity among visitors from Singapore.

For me, a regular to Johor Bahru, it is the supermarkets for groceries, Daiso / Mr. DIY for household items, and cafes / coffee roasters for coffee beans, that brought me over the Causeway at least once a month. And also to explore food havens near the shopping malls.

1. Johor Bahru City Square

Located right next to JB Sentral, JB City Square Shopping Centre is the closest to Singapore and sees the most visitors from Singapore. It features a large number of retailers, pharmacies, restaurants, a cinema, etc, and also a small supermarket in the basement. Being the closest to Singapore, its target customers are primarily visitors from Singapore and prices of goods tend to be slightly pricier — but still cheaper for Singaporeans than for Malaysians.

JB City Square is undergoing phased renovation and expected to finish by late 2027 / early 2028. Some shops / restaurants may close temporary or move out permanently while some may still be opened for business as usual. Expect changes in its tenants till the end of the renovation period.

Get There:
After exiting from JB CIQ (1st Link), walk through JB Sentral and cross a pedestrian bridge. To the left is JB City Square and to the right is KOMTAR JBCC (see below).

Eat There:
Aside from a number of food options within JB City Square, there are numerous eating options outside the mall, along Jalan Wong Ah Fook (in Bandar Johor Bahru) and in a nearby popular food haven known as Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.

2. KOMTAR JBCC

KOMTAR JBCC is located right beside JB City Square and gets its fair share of Singapore visitors. Aside from retail shops and restaurants, it also housed a Daiso outlet, a Mr DIY outlet, couple of money changers, etc. The mall has an indoor playground, named Kidz Republic, designed to entertain children with various activities.

Eat There:
There are several restaurants within KOMTAR JBCC and outside the mall in Bandar Johor Bahru.

3. KSL City

KSL City Mall is probably the next most visited shopping mall by Singapore visitors for its affordability and convenience — for those willing to travel a little further. The mall features diverse shopping, abundant food options (from street food to restaurants), a cinema, Daiso, Mr. DIY, Lotus’s supermarket, a number of massage centres and spas / salons, all linked to KSL Hotel & Resort for easy stays, making it a go-to spot for day trips and short getaways. There is also a night market outside the mall on Monday evenings.

Get There:
KSL City is serviced directly by a shuttle bus service from JB Sentral. Read: JB Bus: To KSL City Mall / Holiday Plaza in Johor Bahru

4. Pelangi Leisure Mall

Tucked away in one corner of Taman Pelangi is Pelangi Leisure Mall, which looks like an abandoned warehouse if not for the signs of Mr. DIY, Marrybrown and Giant hanging on the outer wall. With few retail shops and Marrybrown as the only food option, the mall offers a bowling alley, a fitness centre and also a Mr. DIY outlet. The ground floor is occupied by Giant Hypermarket — the largest and nearest supermarket in nearby Johor Bahru.

Being further away from the main road and all local bus services, Pelangi Leisure Mall is more convenient to locals, Singapore visitors who drive and people who can walk — like me. The mall has a large carpark that is seldom fully occupied even on weekends.

Get There:
JB Bus: To Taman Pelangi (彩虹花园) & Dai Mah Garden (大马花园) in Johor Bahru

5. Plaza Pelangi

Plaza Pelangi has been around for many years and had gotten a major facelift few years back. It looks like a new shopping complex. However, its popularity among Singapore visitors is rather low compared to other shopping complexes in Johor Bahru, especially with the popular KSL City nearby. Plaza Pelangi has a premium Mercato supermarket, where prices are relatively higher than other supermarkets but it boasts higher-quality, luxury goods.

Get There:
JB Bus: To Taman Pelangi (彩虹花园) & Dai Mah Garden (大马花园) in Johor Bahru

Eat There:
Plaza Pelangi offers several restaurants and cafes. For cheaper eats, there are many food options just outside the mall in Taman Maju Jaya and the wider Taman Pelangi. Read: JB Eats: What to Eat in Taman Pelangi (彩虹花园)

6. Mid Valley Southkey Mall

Opened in April 2019, Mid Valley Southkey Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Johor Bahru. It is located in Kota Southkey right next to Taman Sentosa. The shopping mall has hundreds of shops, including restaurants, a Village Grocer supermarket, a cinema, entertainment zones, etc, and an adjoining hotel named St Giles Southkey, offering a one-stop shopping and leisure experience. The shopping mall has gained much popularity among Singapore visitors.

Get There:
There is a shuttle bus service from JB Sentral to the shopping complex. Read: JB Bus: To Mid Valley Southkey Mall in Kota Southkey

Eat There:
Mid Valley Southkey offers tons of eating options, including a foodcourt. There are more options in nearby Taman Sentosa. Read: JB Eats: What to Eat in Taman Sentosa (大丰花园)

7. Toppen / AEON Mall Tebrau City / IKEA Tebrau

Tebrau City is a shopping cluster in Taman Desa Tebrau that comprises of Toppen, AEON Mall Tebrau City, IKEA Tebrau and Lotus’s supermarket. The cluster is some 20 minutes’ drive from JB Sentral. IKEA Tebrau is the largest (in Southeast Asia) and a somewhat-cheaper alternative to the IKEA outlets in Singapore. Toppen is a relatively new shopping mall opened in November 2019 and inter-connected to IKEA Tebrau. The shopping cluster is popular with visitors who drive.

For Singapore visitors, getting bulky furniture from IKEA Tebrau may not necessary be cheaper, after taking into considerations the 9% GST and transport cost, and also the trouble to transport them back home. Nevertheless, the outlet is still popular among Singapore visitors to get smaller, cheap items that are easy to carry back.

Get There:
There is direct bus service to Toppen / IKEA Tebrau from Larkin Sentral. Read: JB Bus: To IKEA Tebrau, AEON Mall Tebrau City & Toppen in Taman Desa Tebrau

Eat There:
There are tons of dining option in both Toppen and AEON Mall Tebrau City. If eating at IKEA restaurants in Singapore is considered expensive, then don’t miss the chance to feast at IKEA Tebrau with much cheaper prices.

8. AEON Mall Bukit Indah

AEON Bukit Indah is in the western suburb of Johor Bahru and is easier and faster to get there via Tuas (2nd Link) than via the usually-congested Woodlands Causeway. Apart from the many retail shops, massage services and restaurants, AEON itself offers a large supermarket with a foodcourt. Most Singapore visitors who enter Johor Bahru via Tuas will usually visit the mall.

Get There:
JB Bus: To AEON Mall Bukit Indah / Perling Mall

9. Paradigm Mall JB

Paradigm Mall JB is a major regional shopping, leisure and entertainment hub located in Skudai district. It is one of the largest malls in Johor Bahru, featuring over 500 retail shops across seven floors, offering a diverse range of shopping, Village Grocer supermarket and dining options. For entertainment, there are Malaysia’s first indoor ice-skating rink, a large climbing gym, a 16-screen cinema, an indoor adventure park, a roller skating rink, etc. The mall is also part of a larger complex that includes a hotel (Hyatt Place JB) and serviced residences.  

Get There:
Paradigm Mall is serviced by a number of public buses on the Skudai Highway. Read: JB Bus: To Beletime Danga Bay / Angsana Mall / Paradigm Mall / Sutera Mall along Skudai Highway

10. Sutera Mall

Sutera Mall is a large, family-focused shopping destination known for its diverse retail mix, extensive food options (including a unique Hong Kong-themed street on the lower ground floor), and vibrant atmosphere with entertainment, making it a popular spot for both locals and Singapore visitors seeking shopping, dining and leisure. It features anchor tenants like AEON BIG hypermarket, numerous specialty stores, restaurants, cafes, beauty services, and even arcades. The largest Scarlett Supermarket (思家客) in both Singapore and Malaysia is also located here.

Get There:
JB Bus: To Beletime Danga Bay / Angsana Mall / Paradigm Mall / Sutera Mall along Skudai Highway

Eat There:
Sutera Mall itself offers a lot of local and international dining options. Outside the mall, in Taman Sutera Utama, is another food haven of more choices.

Aside from the better-known shopping malls listed above, there may be more / newer malls to explore and probably nearer to Singapore than expected. However, the primary factor affecting their popularities with majority of Singapore visitors is whether they can be easily accessible using public buses and lower expenses.

Next:

Johor Bahru Bus Guides: Get Around Johor Bahru using Public Buses